Wanna hear funny story about cops. They're out there.

This is in the 80's.

So in a very small incorporated town in Los Angeles County they have their own police dept. Most of the surrounding places like North Hollywood, Sylmar, Tujunga etc. Are still Los Angeles and LAPD or LASD are their police agencies. Incorporated towns (at that time, don't hold me to today) could form their own pd's or contract service from one of those two agencies.

At that time the city had a very large Mexican/Hispanic community and probably still do. Pacoima is it's neighbor as is Mission Hills and Sylmar, those towns have LAPD and LASD. At the time there was rampant gang activity. Major rivals being the Pacas and the SanFers. This resulted in many skirmishes which involved gun battles. It was like the Wild West. Anyways this little dept. would have drivebys, and at one point someone tried to ram a car into the building.

Employee's cars sat in the adjacent unsecured parking lot. Fully accessible to all manner of vandalism. There were no outside cameras and hell yeah, you looked over your shoulder coming and going. So needless to say an open threat to a cop was serious, still is. The difference being limited resources to mobilize and only the technology of that time. So they erected a 7ft my guesstimation, right in front of the wide double doors to curtail bullets and cars.

View was hampered from both sides. The building was ancient. Small lobby, 20 people would take up the whole space. It was grungy and often smoke filled. The dispatcher who greeted you was sitting behind a bullet proof window which had recently been installed, because you know, bullets and people who liked to jump the counter to fight you. There was a phone for you speak with that dispatcher, who was the receptionist, if you will, and the jailer. Yeah, many hats, that's why the job description

was Desk Officer. The jail had Andy Griffith style cells. Stand back, they can grab you if you're within reach and they feel the need to slam you into those bars. The hallways were very narrow so you stood with your back up against a block wall. Not all the people incarcerated were violent. Picked up for drunk and disorderly conduct. Or some other minor infraction. Some were deadly given an opportunity. But almost all of them were known to the pd. small city, they knew or knew of everyone

who lived there. Some of the cops lived in town instead of the next town over. Often times, if you were picked up for drunkenness or vagrancy such as sleeping in front of a business. They would release you in a day or maybe two. No charges and you were sent on your way, see you next weekend or when they wave hi at each other when cop was patrolling and Mr. So and So was watering his lawn, encounters at the market. School plays where both your kids went to school.

Mostly copacetic. The equipment was ancient as well. A lot of excitment when the 911 system was installed. The Jetsons meet the Flinstones moment. Up until that time you called the regular line and hopefully you were able to give the location and a name to get aid going your way in an emergency. Scary shit when someone is shot and can hardly talk and is gasping for air, or so hysterical because they found their baby floating in the pool and can't get anything out but a scream.

The Desk Officer were in a room that was smaller than the lobby. 8 people was claustrophobic. The booking cell was a few steps away, where you could still see the lobby by looking in a mirror or turning around a taking a step or two. The equipment in the room where the changing hat wearer sat had a huge rolodex looking thing that you fumbled through should a cop need you to check and see if it was reported stolen in another jurisdiction after you checked your own daily briefing reports

in the event it wasn't a report generated by the station. Cumbersome and time consuming to say the least. The calls that came in were recorded on a huge reel to reel contraption that you rotated at the end of the day, if you were the person relieving 3rd shift, last shift of a 24 hour period They were replaced with erased reels from 31days prior. Retention time was 30 days before being erased and being put back in rotation. If the tapes contained a call or calls that would be used in a trial

They weren't erased until no longer needed. Could be months, could be years. The alarm board that signaled a robbery or burglary was in progress was a metal board consisting of toggle switches. The toggle switch for that location had a number assigned to it located between the toggle switch and a light that activated to indicate which business had set of their alarm. You looked that number up to find the name and location of where to send the cops. The transmitting, recieving equipment

Consisted of a relic best easily described as Car 54 Where Are You, or Adam.12 style device that had two large buttons. One side to transmit info across the airwaves that privately owned police scanners could listen to and the other to transmit info the public wasn't privy to. Station one and station two. You heard them through a radio. No headsets. So when you recieved a 911 call the person on the line could hear what you were saying to the cops unless you put them on hold.

Not something you wanted to do if they were still giving you information as you were relaying it. Listening to the person on the phone, listening to the cops who were asking questions or for more assistance, directions being given while asking and speaking at the same time in responses. And writing it all down as you went along. Stressful, you bet.

This city is very Catholic with several churches. The came together on special occasions and held festivals. The streets were filled with familes

Catholic and non Catholic alike. Exciting and fun for everyone. Sure people were arrested for fighting, theft. etc. but mostly it was just a good time for most. During one of these events a 911 call comes in with a payphone address in the middle of the crowded main street. Hundreds of people milling about. The inebriated person on the line says, "hey, I'm going to kill this cop". Holy shit. Ya can't put that out even on station two because this guy will know the fuzz is on the way and beat feet

You can't put them on hold, they'll hang up. So you write down any info caller might give in the hopes of discovering his ID. or anything that might be useful. Did you walk there. Did you drive. Who you partying with later. Anything.

But first be sympathetic. Make them want to talk to you and don't be a threat. Great plan right. Cross your fingers and hope for the best outcome possible.

Dispatcher: So what did he do to piss you off.
Caller: Pinche pig took my beer

Meanwhile a cop comes in, you give him what you have written down. Along with, PUT IT OUT CAR TO CAR ONLY.

Dispatcher: That sucks, some people just hate fun.
Caller: I'm gonna fuck him up
Dispatcher getting street with it: So, Homie I can see why your mad but what if we just write him up. He'll get in trouble. You don't want to shoot anybody for that. Kids are out there, you're gonna scare them. You don't want that to happen. DId you get that assholes name.
Caller: No

Dispatcher: Well what's he look like
Caller: Gabacho (white guy) with a mustache

Hahaha that narrows it down, not. They are all white guys with mustaches.

Dispatcher: I know who that is, I can't stand him either.

Suddenly in the background, you here a cop shout. "Put the phone down motherfucker"
Caller: Hey babe, I gotta go, maybe we can go out sometime.
Dispatcher: Sure thing. Take care.
Arrested, no gun, just super drunk and in deep shit now.
Dispatcher books in future date. He doesn't know